11.04.2013

November 2013

I've personally never been able to execute one properly. I get distracted by pool tables and TBS programming. It seems about time to update this one.

Next week I will have been on tour for 'round about three months straight. Books have been read, records released, coffee spilt, records listened, seasons turned, Halloween's had, vans re-loaded, etc...

The new Tim Kasher record came out last month on Saddle Creek, and I'm writing this from a van on the 85 in North Carolina promoting that record (Adult Film)

It's a great band, just a nice stripped down rhythm section that I love playing with...

Al Jorgensen's new book was a great read, but I'm definitely not one who to be upset by any ministry fodder. Highlights: Al realizing that the mid-late 80's Chicago Cubs team were a group of weirdo bad asses. Trashing every thrash band except Anthrax and Pantera. Helping Fred Durst get the Thieves sound, encouraging him to get nude and don the cowboy hat...

Other reads:

Dream Team.

My Life With Madonna.

But more importantly...

The new Carcass record will, I suspect, take that coveted prize of my favorite record of the last year. I haven't read much press, but I assume the world loves it as much as I do...

Picking up where Heartwork left off (I've always loved Swansong, but let's get down to it) with Surgical Steel Carcass has somehow achieved what metal history has proved the near impossible task of maintaining all the best qualities of the former, with the passing (18 or so) years just getting better...tighter, more refined...thicker, and less ambiguous moments in tempo.

Beginning the record, "1985" references the fanfare opening best executed in metal by Judas Priest's The Hellion/Electric Eye. Actually, and this may rub some fans of both bands the wrong way, there are more than a few musical moments that I seriously think Megadeth would have been proud to put on any of their records. Harmonically, Carcass has proven to be masters of the dual lead, but they still churn out great ensemble passages on both ends of the neck.

Anyway, I'm not a critic, and that's what's on my mind as I'm about to check out the new Motörhead record over a crisp white wine and Caesar Salad.